How to Identify GloFish (Zebra Danio/Black Skirt Tetra)

To identify GloFish (Zebra Danio/Black Skirt Tetra) (Danio rerio (Zebra Danio)/Gymnocorymbus ternetzi(Black Skirt Tetra)), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

elongated

Coloration

GloFish exhibit a range of vibrant, unnatural fluorescent colors including electric green, starfire red, sunburst orange, cosmic blue, galactic purple, and moonrise pink. These colors are stable and genetically inherited. The underlying body shape and fin structure remain consistent with the wild-type Zebra Danio (slender, torpedo-shaped) or Black Skirt Tetra (laterally compressed, disc-shaped).

Scale type

cycloid

Mouth position

terminal

Distinctive features

Genetically engineered to express fluorescent proteins., Vibrant, unnatural coloration (red, green, orange, blue, purple, pink)., Fluorescence is enhanced under blue/UV light.

Dorsal fin

Single, short-based dorsal fin, typically located mid-body (Danio) or slightly posterior to mid-body (Tetra).

Tail fin

Forked caudal fin (Danio) or moderately forked caudal fin (Tetra).

Pectoral fin

Paired pectoral fins, typically clear or slightly colored.

Distinctive fins

All fins are generally clear or take on the fluorescent hue of the body.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Coloration

   The most obvious identifier is their intense, unnatural fluorescent colors (e.g., electric green, starfire red, cosmic blue) which are not present in wild fish.

2. 2

   Fluorescence under blue light

   Under blue or 'black' light, their colors will glow intensely, a characteristic unique to these genetically modified organisms.

3. 3

   Species-specific morphology

   Beyond the color, observe the underlying body shape and fin structure to identify the base species (e.g., slender, striped body for Danio; compressed, disc-shaped body with a tall dorsal fin for Tetra).

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